Disclaimer
These notes were made using the following textbook:
Baumeister, R. F., Bushman, B. J., Ally, Y., de Sousa, D., Dhlomo-Sibiya, R.
M., Hermann, C., Mbatha, K., Nienaber, A., Schwär, G., Shirinda-
Mthombeni, K., and Silinda, F. (2018). Social Psychology: South Africa (1st
Edition). Cengage Learning. ISBN: 9781473751415.
, Chapter 9: Prosocial Behavior
- doing what is best for others
Introduction:
• Upstream reciprocity: passing benefits on to third parties instead of
returning benefits to one’s benefactors
o ‘Pay it forward’
o Worldwide movement to send ‘ripples of kindness’ around
the world
Is helping contagious?:
• Sometimes social psychologists seem to focus on the negative things
• People can and do behave magnificently
o Example: people endanger their own lives to help others in a
flood
What is prosocial behavior?:
• Prosocial behavior: doing something good for someone or for society
as a whole
• Includes behavior that respects others or allows society to operate
o Obeying rules, conforming to accepted standards of behavior,
and cooperating with others
o Connectedness, fairness and justice
• Prosocial behaviour build relationships.
• Conformity and obedience are perceived as prosocial behaviors. They
are more important for society to functioning well than altruistic and
self sacrificing acts.
2
These notes were made using the following textbook:
Baumeister, R. F., Bushman, B. J., Ally, Y., de Sousa, D., Dhlomo-Sibiya, R.
M., Hermann, C., Mbatha, K., Nienaber, A., Schwär, G., Shirinda-
Mthombeni, K., and Silinda, F. (2018). Social Psychology: South Africa (1st
Edition). Cengage Learning. ISBN: 9781473751415.
, Chapter 9: Prosocial Behavior
- doing what is best for others
Introduction:
• Upstream reciprocity: passing benefits on to third parties instead of
returning benefits to one’s benefactors
o ‘Pay it forward’
o Worldwide movement to send ‘ripples of kindness’ around
the world
Is helping contagious?:
• Sometimes social psychologists seem to focus on the negative things
• People can and do behave magnificently
o Example: people endanger their own lives to help others in a
flood
What is prosocial behavior?:
• Prosocial behavior: doing something good for someone or for society
as a whole
• Includes behavior that respects others or allows society to operate
o Obeying rules, conforming to accepted standards of behavior,
and cooperating with others
o Connectedness, fairness and justice
• Prosocial behaviour build relationships.
• Conformity and obedience are perceived as prosocial behaviors. They
are more important for society to functioning well than altruistic and
self sacrificing acts.
2
